STARTING TO GET WORRIED!
Jun 28th, 2004, 08:24 AM
#1
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STARTING TO GET WORRIED!
Thanks for the response on Castle Mountain Chalets. I 'm getting a but worried thinking I should try to find another place, but fast based on availability! We are definitely seeking privacy and quiet and I read a review elsewhhere on the Fodor'site that it was near a noisy train! We are very light sleepers and I imagine we will really need our sleep with all the hinking we intend to do! baker Creek Chalets sounds very nice, but they would have to move us after our first night and since we plan to be out early each morning, I wonder how that would work? Is Baker Creek more quiet? Also, we now read in an earlier post that the Bow Valley is closed in the evening for wildlife but then how would we get back to our lodging etc? We expect to be out early and back late to make the most of our time outdoors? As always, your thought are all very much appreciated!
Jun 28th, 2004, 09:14 AM
#3
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Hi Cheryl3,
According to Parks Canada's publication, "The Mountain Guide," that we received at the Banff National Park entry gate on Saturday, June 26, 2004, Bow Valley Parkway is closed between Johnston Canyon and Banff from 6 pm to 9 am from March 1st to June 25th. ("The Mountain Guide" is a publication that every visitor receives upon paying the national parks entry fee.)
The closure does not apply to the section of the Bow Valley Parkway that is between Johnston Canyon and Lake Louise. The closure also does not apply to the Johnston Canyon - Banff portion of the Bow Valley Parkway after June 25th.
The night time closure applies to the southeastern third of the Bow Valley Parkway, and even then it's only in effect in the spring.
Baker Creek Chalets are towards the Lake Louise (northwestern) end of the Bow Valley Parkway (about 10 minutes from Lake Louise village). So I cannot imagine that Baker Creek Chalets would be affected by a night time road closure.
However, according to my map of Banff National Park, the railroad track passes fairly close to the confluence of Baker Creek and the Bow River, which is where I think Baker Creek Chalets are located. Perhaps someone who has stayed at Baker Creek Chalets can comment on whether or not one can hear trains at night. As Ltt said, though, Baker Creek Chalets consistently receives rave reviews here.
If you do decide to stay at Baker Creek and they need to move you after your first night, perhaps the staff would be willing to move your suitcases from your first room to your second room while you're out hiking during the day. I don't know for sure, but it's worth asking.
I know Deer Lodge is well away from the railroad track, and would have recommended it, but it appears to be fully booked during the dates that you'll be travelling.
I hope you find something suitable. Perhaps all that hiking will make you sleep more soundly than usual, and the train noise may be less of an issue than you anticipate.
According to Parks Canada's publication, "The Mountain Guide," that we received at the Banff National Park entry gate on Saturday, June 26, 2004, Bow Valley Parkway is closed between Johnston Canyon and Banff from 6 pm to 9 am from March 1st to June 25th. ("The Mountain Guide" is a publication that every visitor receives upon paying the national parks entry fee.)
The closure does not apply to the section of the Bow Valley Parkway that is between Johnston Canyon and Lake Louise. The closure also does not apply to the Johnston Canyon - Banff portion of the Bow Valley Parkway after June 25th.
The night time closure applies to the southeastern third of the Bow Valley Parkway, and even then it's only in effect in the spring.
Baker Creek Chalets are towards the Lake Louise (northwestern) end of the Bow Valley Parkway (about 10 minutes from Lake Louise village). So I cannot imagine that Baker Creek Chalets would be affected by a night time road closure.
However, according to my map of Banff National Park, the railroad track passes fairly close to the confluence of Baker Creek and the Bow River, which is where I think Baker Creek Chalets are located. Perhaps someone who has stayed at Baker Creek Chalets can comment on whether or not one can hear trains at night. As Ltt said, though, Baker Creek Chalets consistently receives rave reviews here.
If you do decide to stay at Baker Creek and they need to move you after your first night, perhaps the staff would be willing to move your suitcases from your first room to your second room while you're out hiking during the day. I don't know for sure, but it's worth asking.
I know Deer Lodge is well away from the railroad track, and would have recommended it, but it appears to be fully booked during the dates that you'll be travelling.
I hope you find something suitable. Perhaps all that hiking will make you sleep more soundly than usual, and the train noise may be less of an issue than you anticipate.
Jun 28th, 2004, 09:52 AM
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We have stayed at Baker Creek Chalets on numerous occasions (and during different seasons of the year), and heve never had problems with access. You can drive the Trans Canada highway and turn off either at Castle Junction, or drive all the way to the Lake Louise turnoff and double back (an 8 - 10 minute drive).
As for the trains, I am the worst person in the world to ask, I can sleep through a clock radio blaring at high volume in my ear (which mystifies my husband - he DOES wake up!!), and besides, the sound of trains tends to lull me to sleep anyway.
The train tracks run in the valley lower than Baker Creek Chalets, that may muffle any sounds that they make.
By the way - there is a picturesque spot not far from Baker Creek (in the direction of Lake Louise) - immortalized in many photographs and postcards - called Morant's curve, where, in suitable weather, you can see many photographers with their gear set up waiting for the next train to pass so they can get that one special shot of a train in a long curve plus a river, forests, and a mountain backdrop - especially effective in early early winter when there is snow at high elevations and frost on the trees and the river isn't quite frozen yet. Nice in summer too.
As for the trains, I am the worst person in the world to ask, I can sleep through a clock radio blaring at high volume in my ear (which mystifies my husband - he DOES wake up!!), and besides, the sound of trains tends to lull me to sleep anyway.
The train tracks run in the valley lower than Baker Creek Chalets, that may muffle any sounds that they make.
By the way - there is a picturesque spot not far from Baker Creek (in the direction of Lake Louise) - immortalized in many photographs and postcards - called Morant's curve, where, in suitable weather, you can see many photographers with their gear set up waiting for the next train to pass so they can get that one special shot of a train in a long curve plus a river, forests, and a mountain backdrop - especially effective in early early winter when there is snow at high elevations and frost on the trees and the river isn't quite frozen yet. Nice in summer too.
Jun 28th, 2004, 06:42 PM
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How many trains pass through Bow Valley during the night. I was considering Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge and their brochure shows the tracks near it.
It can't be any worse than the truck traffic we hear from I-81 in the Shenandoah Valley in VA though.
It can't be any worse than the truck traffic we hear from I-81 in the Shenandoah Valley in VA though.
Jun 28th, 2004, 10:10 PM
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The Georgetown Inn and Lady Macdonald Country Inn are on Bow Valley Trail in Canmore, right across from the railway tracks. That is the street on which Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge is located.
After having slept in those establishments several times, I cannot tell you how many trains pass through the town on an average night, because I've slept through them all.
I'm guessing there are a fair number of trains. I'm basing my guess on a very recent observation. A couple of months ago our son moved to a Calgary apartment that has a good view of the train tracks. We had dinner with him last night. While we were there we were surprised by the number of trains we saw. Okay, perhaps not every train that passes through Calgary passes through Canmore and Banff National Park, but I bet most of them do.
But, as I said before, sleeping a stone's throw from the train tracks in Canmore has not disturbed me up to this point.
After having slept in those establishments several times, I cannot tell you how many trains pass through the town on an average night, because I've slept through them all.
I'm guessing there are a fair number of trains. I'm basing my guess on a very recent observation. A couple of months ago our son moved to a Calgary apartment that has a good view of the train tracks. We had dinner with him last night. While we were there we were surprised by the number of trains we saw. Okay, perhaps not every train that passes through Calgary passes through Canmore and Banff National Park, but I bet most of them do.
But, as I said before, sleeping a stone's throw from the train tracks in Canmore has not disturbed me up to this point.
